RIVERSIDE: Workshop set on Mount Rubidoux cross issue

Riverside council members will prepare for a decision on the Mount Rubidoux cross’ future by hearing about options for selling a piece of the mountain and some case law about constitutional challenges to crosses on public land.

Legal issues and possible next steps will be the topic of a public workshop set for Tuesday, Jan. 15, but no vote will be taken. The council plans a final decision on the cross at its Jan. 22 meeting.

The iconic cross, the site of an Easter sunrise service that began in 1909, is the subject of a potential lawsuit because its location – Mount Rubidoux – is a public park. Washington, D.C.-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State wrote to Riverside last August threatening to sue if the cross is not removed. The group argued it is an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion.

Its letter also suggested the city could give the cross to a private entity, or sell the land where it sits and clearly mark it as non-public property. The latter option was recommended by the city attorney’s office, and council members will review possible sale procedures at Tuesday’s workshop.

A report for Tuesday’s meeting lists deed restrictions that would be placed on the 0.43-acre parcel under the cross if it is sold. The city would require the purchaser to keep the property as open space and allow public access to it, and the restrictions would ban the new owner from building anything or using the property for commercial purposes.

One thing the city can’t require is that the cross remain in place. A sale or auction also would also have to be impartial and open to all bidders in order to satisfy the group threatening the suit.

Tuesday’s agenda doesn’t give information on which legal cases the city has reviewed or will discuss with the council. Supervising Deputy City Attorney Kristi Smith, who is handling the issue, could not be reached for comment Friday, Jan. 11.

Three community groups – the Friends of Mt. Rubidoux, Mission Inn Foundation and Riverside Land Conservancy – recently announced they’ll cooperate to raise money and put in a bid on the cross property if the city puts it up for sale. Officials with the groups said they would keep the cross in place and continue to allow public use of the parcel.

Friends of Mt. Rubidoux board member Glenn Wenzel said Friday that the groups – which are calling their effort “Totally Mt. Rubidoux” – have reached out to faith-based institutions in Riverside. Some church officials are waiting to see what the council decides, he said, but “if the City Council goes for (holding an) auction we’ll get a lot of support from them.”

Brenda Wood, a pastor at Word of Life Ministries International, said she’d like to see the city fight a lawsuit, but “when you’re on the City Council you have to think from their perspective. They’re thinking what’s best for the city.”

Wood said she’ll encourage people to support Totally Mt. Rubidoux because “I think this is a good avenue for all Riverside, not just Christians.”

Follow Alicia Robinson on Twitter: @arobinson_pe, or online at http://blog.pe.com/riverside/